Movie review #6 "Whale Rider"

This is story about the problem of a tribal inheritor. I was impressed by a girl who tried to make a way for herself, though her grandfather treated her coolly just because she was a girl. The story was a little difficult, but interesting.

The heroine is Paikea who is a granddaughter of the head of Maori. She is a hard worker with a strong mind. She works hard everyday to be approved her grandfather. Koro is her grandfather. He is very stubborn and he never approves Paikea as his inheritor. It is because there is a tradition that the head of the tribe must be a man. He believes that he has to follow a tradition.

Story
A girl who was born as granddaughter was named Paikea after the forefather hero. But her grandfather Koro didn’t approve her and treated her coolly. One day Paikea didn’t obey him at the meeting. It made Koro enraged and told Paikea not to have the education to be an inheritor. Paikea was not discouraged by this. She worked as hard as the boys. For example, she attended Koro’s lecture secretly or learned the art of fitting with a cudgel called Taiaha by her uncle. Could she be approved by her grandfather?

Paikea invited her grandfather to her school play but he didn’t come. He was at the beach at that time. Many whales were stranded there. They were growing weaker. All the people tried to return the whale to the sea, but they couldn’t. When the people almost gave up, Paikea approached to a whale. She prayed to God and ride on the whale. The whale began to swim, and other whales followed it. Paikea saved whales! When Paikea is riding on the whale, she looked exactly like the forefather hero Paikea. Koro was sorry for behavior to Paikea and approved her as his real inheritor.

Feeling
There are difficulties in the problems of the tribes. Traditions are considered very important and people are exclusive to the new ideas. I got the impression Maori has a same problem by this movie. Paikea made a desperate effort for her future in such a bad environment. She looked like a shining a hope for my future.


(372 words / total 10314 words)

Book review #10 "Beauty & the Beast"

There was a man who has three daughters. He was very rich. His name was Pierre. He gave his daughters everything they wanted. His eldest daughters wanted the jewelry or dresses, but his youngest daughter Beauty wanted a rose.

One day, Pierre went out to get the present for his daughters. On his way, a thick fog filled the air and he lost his way. Suddenly, a castle appeared in front of him. He opened the door and called out, but there was no answer. There was a feast on the table. He ate it because he was starving. There was a rosebush in the garden. When Pierre plucked a rose for Beauty, a huge shadow appeared and grabbed him. It was the Beast. The Beast was enraged and tried to kill him. Pierre explained that the rose was for his daughter Beauty. Then the Beast wanted Beauty instead of his life. Pierre consented unwillingly. After he went back home, he was anxious about the promise with the Beast. Beauty worried about her father and asked him what happened, but he did not say anything.

One morning, Beauty found a letter in front of sleeping Pierre. The promise with the Beast was written on it. The letter said Pierre would go to the castle in her place. Beauty left a note and went to the castle by her father’s horse. When Beauty arrived at the castle, she noticed the sweet-smelling. It was from the garden. She went into the garden and met the Beast there. At first, the Beast threaten her with his grow! But he shed tears when he knew the girl was Pierre’s daughter Beauty. Beauty asked him why he was crying, and he told that he had been alone for a long time. Beauty sympathized with him and decided to stay with him.

At that evening, they enjoyed talking together. The Beast liked very much, so he asked her to marry him. But she refused. The next day, Beauty explored the castle. There were rooms where fairies were performing a play, a library which has great many books, and so on. In the garden, there were exotic flowers and magic animals. After dinner, the Beast proposed to Beauty again, but she said no. That night, Beauty had a strange dream. She had dinner with a hand some prince in the dream. Next morning, she found a portrait at the library. It was a picture of the prince she saw in the dream. She asked the Beast about him at the dinner time. The Beast told her he knew the prince, but he had not seen him for years. Next day, Beauty told the Beast that she missed her family. The beast gave her a ring. It was a magic ring which took her home. She promised the Beast to come back within two weeks.

Her father was very happy to see Beauty again, but her sisters were not. They were afraid that their shares of their fathers property would be harm her if Beauty would not go back to the castle within two weeks. So they tried to keep her longer Beauty stayed one more night unwillingly.
That night, Beauty had a dream that the Beast was lying in his garden. She woke up in surprise and harried back to the castle. The Beast was lying in the garden and dying. Beauty kissed him wishing for his recover. Suddenly, the Beast flashed and disappeared. Then a handsome prince appeared with a flash. It was a prince Beauty saw in her dream. He explained that he was turned to the Beast by a fairy because he refused to marry her. Beauty and the Prince got married the next day. Her sisters complained about their marriage. Then they were changed to the stone by the fairy.


Feeling
It was a very interesting story. I think it is rare that the beast is the hero, though the scene that a kiss broke a spell was stereotyped. But it was something fresh for me because I did not know the story well as “Snow White” or “Cinderella”. It was cruel that Beauty’s sisters were turned to the stone by a fairy at last. To my surprise, the endings of the fairy tales are often cruel. I realized that recently.


(718 words / total 9942 words)

Whiskey Coke

Now, my favorite alcoholic drink is whiskey. I began to drink it under the influence of a song. Eikichi Yazawa is one of my favorite singers. Though he’ll be 60 this year, he is still cool. ‘Whiskey Coke’ is one of his songs. ‘Whiskey Coke’ means ‘mixed whiskey with cola’ literally. When I listened to this song, I wanted to drink it. Soon I tried it. It was very good!! I was enslaved by its taste. I respect the person who made it first. Whiskey is strong liquor, but it becomes easier to drink by mixing with cola. I drink it every time I go to the bar or somewhere after I knew it, I also make it with whiskey and cola at home. My favorite whiskey is ‘Kaku’ made by Suntry. It is because Koyuki who appears on TV commercial of ‘Kaku’ is very cute.

I drink it alone at night after my part time job. When I’m tried, I’m a lonely man. Looking back I drank alone on Christmas Day or at the end and the beginning of the year. When I talked about this to my friend, he said “Are you a middle-age man?” “You live just like 40 years old man.” Yes, he is right I’m a lonely middle-aged man… Someone give me love, anyone!!


(219 words / 9224 words)

Book review #9 "Cinderella"

Cinderella lived with her stepmother and stepsisters. She was overworked by them like a servant.

One day, the invitation to a Christmas Ball held by Prince arrived. Cinderella’s stepmother and sisters were excited. Cinderella heard the news and wanted to go with them. But her stepmother did not allow. She looked at her father to ask to help her, but he looked the other way. Her stepmother told her to make her stepsisters more beautiful. Cinderella helped them choose their dresses, hats, and so on. She worked hard to make their outfits.

At the night of the Ball, Cinderella was left alone. When she was crying, her godmother came out from the fireplace. Cinderella explained the reason of her tears to her godmother Felicity. Felicity told Cinderella to bring a large pumpkin and waved her wand uttering an incantation. Then, the pumpkin changed into beautiful golden coach. Felicity changed a rat, mice and lizard to a coachman, the houses and footman. She also touched Cinderella with her wand to dress her up. When Cinderella left her house, Felicity told her to leave the palace before twelve.

At the ballroom everyone paid attention to Cinderella. She danced with the Prince. She was enjoying the Ball. Then, she noticed that it was almost midnight. Cinderella rushed out of the dance palace. The Prince tried to call her to stop, but Cinderella did not stop. When the Prince looked for her, he found her glass slipper.

The next morning, a messenger from the palace came. He has a message that said the Prince will marry with the true owner of the glass slipper. Cinderella’s stepsisters tried it, but their felt were too big to fit it. The messenger told Cinderella to try on. The glass slipper fitted her foot perfectly. The messenger took off his hat and coat. It was the Prince. He asked Cinderella to marry him. Cinderella and the Prince were married and lived happily for long long time.


Feeling
I think “Cinderella” is one of the most famous fairy tales. Reading “Cinderella” or “Snow White”, many girls may imagine themselves as the heroines and dream to fall in love with the Prince.

I suppose that most of people know this story by Disney film. I’m one of them. It was really a sweet pleasure to read this book. By the way, I have a doubt about this story. The glass shoes are impractical. They must be dangerous to walk.


(409 words / total 9005 words)

Book review #8 "The Three Little Pigs"

Once upon a time, three little pigs –Pinky, Percy and Poppy – lived with their mother. Their house was too small for four big pigs. They wanted their own houses. So, they left home to build their houses. A wolf was watching them behind the bushes. Pinky built his house with straw. Percy made his house with sticks. Then Poppy made her house with bricks.
The next day, the Big Bad Wolf visit Pinky and wanted to get into his house, but Pinky refused. Then the wolf got angry and blew the house off with his breath. Pinky ran away and went to Percy’s house. The wolf ran after him and wanted to get into the stick house. But Percy also refused that. The wolf blew the house off again.
Pinky and Percy ran away and went to Poppy’s brick house. The wolf came there and wanted to get in. Of cause Poppy refused that, so the wolf tried to blew the house off. The wolf huffed and puffed again and again. But the brick house was strong and heavy and the wolf could not blow it off. At last, the wolf gave up blowing it off and jumped onto the roof to get into the house from the chimney. He slid down the chimney and landed in Poppy’s cooking pot. There was hot water in it. The three pigs put the lid on the pot and the wolf died.

Feeling
I have read this story many times when I was a child. I enjoyed the ending that the pigs beat the wolf simply. But this time, I felt brutality a little in description. I wonder if this story is suitable for children.

(282 words / total 8596 words)

Movie Review #5 "Mrs. Doubtfire"

This movie is a heart warming comedy. The subject of it is “Love for his (her) family”. You can enjoy it more by watching with your family. The hero and heroine of this movie felt the difference of sense of values between them. Then they divorced. This sometimes happens in the real married lives. I was deep impressed by the tone of voice and acting ability of Robin Williams.

The hero is Daniel Hillard. He is an innocent and doting father. But he doesn’t have a fixed job and always has quarrels with his wife. He was divorced by his wife. The heroine is Daniel’s wife Miranda. She is a reliable and realistic person. She’s the exact opposite of her husband. She finally washed her hands of Daniel and decided to divorce him. Mrs. Doubtfire is a housekeeper. She was hired by Miranda, and came to the Hillard’s home. She does her work – cooking, cleaning and nursing while Miranda is working at her office. Mrs. Doubtfire is a skilled housekeeper. To tell the truth, Daniel disguised himself as Mrs. Doubtfire.

Story
Daniel didn’t have a fixed job and led a free and uninhibited life. So, Daniel and Miranda didn’t get along with each other though Daniel was loved by his children. At last, Daniel was divorced by Miranda. He lost his right to bring up his children and he had to live away from them. When he lost all hope, he knew that Miranda was looking for a housekeeper. He called her with imitating a woman’s voice, and succeeded to be hired. He has a brother who is a makeup artist. He made Daniel up specially and Daniel became “Mrs. Doubtfire”.

Mrs. Doubtfire did a good job. She did good home education and cooked well. She was also a kind woman. So, she was gaining generous support by Miranda and her children. One day, Miranda and her children were invited to dinner by Stu who was Daniel’s rival in love. Mrs. Doubtfire went to dinner with them. At dinner, Daniel’s disguise was exposed. There was quite in an uproar over the affair. When Mrs. Doubtfire had gone, Miranda and her children found her a valuable person. Then, a new housekeeper came to their house. When they open the door after the doorbell rang, they saw Daniel there!

Feeling
I had seen this movie when I was a little child. But I can enjoy it every time I see it. It is an original idea that Daniel went back his home by dressing himself as a woman. I want a father like him. (Though I want him to have a fixed job) This movie tells us that “The way to express his (her) love to his (her) family is not only one.” Please see this movie by all means.
P.S. “Dude (Looks Like A Lady)” by Aero Smith was used in this movie. This is one of the songs I like the best. Why don’t you listen to it?



(498 words / total 8314 words)

Presentation

This is the results of the questionnaires. We asked 130 students, 59 males and 71 females, of KGU.

First, I’ll tell you about the results of the personal questions.
The age groups are like this,
Age 18 19 20 21 Over 22
Number 13 30 55 24 8

The departments are;
Foreign Language 33
Economics 31
Commercial Science 54
Social Welfare 12

The blood types are
A B O AB
51 43 22 14

Secondly, I’ll tell you about the results of the Yes / No questions. The first question was “Do you eat breakfast?” The answers were Yes – 53, No – 77. The more students don’t eat breakfast. Then, I asked “Do you need more eating place?” and “Are you satisfied with the present students’ dining hall?” Most of students think they need more eating place and they aren’t satisfied with the present situation. Most of male students answered “Yes” to the question “Do you need seats in the smoking section?” It shows the high percentage of the students who smoke. Many students want a café and a half of the students want a new convenience store.

Thirdly, I’ll tell you about the results of the ABCD questions. Mac is by far the most popular fast food restaurant. KFC is the second. About 50 more students selected Mac than KFC. I think it is because we can eat cheaply at Mac. We have to pay more at Mos Burger. Only 11 students selected Mos. Mac is reasonable for student, isn’t it? The students like Japanese food and Italian food better than French and Chinese food. I suppose they have less chance to eat French or Chinese food. The place where the students eat lunch the most is the students’ dining hall. The bakery or Lawson are the next.

Lastly, I’ll tell you about the results of the Open question. Most of the students pay about 350yen or 400yen for lunch. Maybe they eat lunch at the reasonable place like the students’ dining hall or bakery. I asked them “How much can you pay for lunch the maximum?” Most of the students answered between 700yen and 900yen. But there was a rich man who can pay about 1,500yen! The most popular food is pasta. Udon, Chinese Noodle, curry and rice, or bowls of rice are also popular. There were some students who wrote unique answers. For example, “Umai-bo” or “Nori-ben” The students wants various kinds of restaurants. A café, an internet café, a fast food shop, a set meal restaurant, an Italian restaurant, a family restaurant, a buffet, a curry restaurant and so on.

(433 words / total 7816 words)